When natural disasters like floods or droughts happen, people experience their wrath, losing lives, livelihoods, homes and security. Natural disasters disrupt the status quo, and create social, humanitarian and political needs. In most cases, people turn to their governments to provide for these needs. However, governments vary widely in their ability and willingness to provide for these needs. Citizens evaluate the outcomes of the government’s actions in response to their needs arising from the effects of the natural disaster. Natural disasters affect the duration of leaders’ tenure, the likelihood of contentious behavior in society, and the humanitarian consequences, like food and housing security, facing those affected by disasters. I find that natural disasters significantly shorten leaders’ time in office, have negative humanitarian and human rights consequences, and increase the likelihood of contentious behavior.